Mission Accomplished (Last Letter)

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THE LAST TIME!

Since I probably won't be able to write you guys next week, because I probably won't have time, this is my last email as Elder Eliason. 

Wow, that was really sad to type. 2 years really go by fast.

Lemme tell you guys a little bit about this week here with the 3 Musketeers in Sevilha. So, we worked a ton this week and found a lot of people this week to teach. We have Davi, Guilherme, and Julius preparing to be baptized this Saturday!! 

Also, we had exchanges with Granja Portugal, and I stayed with E. Andreski (From Córdoba, Argentina). It's his 1st transfer, so he asked me a ton of questions and I got to share about 204,932 experiences I had on the mission. He already speaks perfect Portuguese and is super determined to baptize!! 

This week, the sisters from Genibaú, Sister Malaquias and Sister Bowen, saved us a bunch. Lunch with the members in our ward fell through twice and the kind sisters let us have lunch with them. They're the best, I felt I had to give them a shoutout haha.

What my mission meant to me

Alright, so I'd like to describe to you guys a part of what my mission meant to me. These were the hardest 2 years of my life by far. I've never worked so hard, been so burned by the sun, been so pushed mentally and spiritually. The mission is meant to help us develop, and shape ourselves into the people we need to be in order to survive spiritually and endure to the end.

When I look back on what I learned these 2 years, a lot of things come to mind. Here's a couple:

1) How to work, and work hard 

2) How to pray, really pray 

3) How to rely on the Lord 

4) How to be a representative of Jesus Christ 

5) How to be happy!!!! 

6) How to feed my testimony constantly 

7) How to obey the Spirit 

8) How to be a convert 

9) How to lead by example 

10) How to teach repentance and baptize converts

I could list a bunch of others, but I don't want to bore you guys. The most important thing that happened on my mission was my own conversion. Before the mission I had a testimony, I knew these things were true but I wasn't converted. I owe my conversion to the Lord and to my mission. I know realize that there is a BIG difference between having a testimony and being converted. 

Brasil is my favorite place. In no other place in the world where you will find such humble people living in poor conditions who are SO HAPPY because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Brazilians are a devoted people and they love to play around with everyone. A people who love Christ and love to share the gospel with everyone. I'll miss Brazil for sure, but I'll miss living amongst Brasileiros for the rest of my life. 

I'll miss a lot of things. I'll miss bearing my testimony every day, I'll miss teaching repentance, I'll miss seeing someone convert to the Lord and have a true change like Alma the younger, I'll miss being called "Gringo", I'll miss being stared at everywhere I go (you know maybe not this one haha), and I'll miss wearing the name of my Lord and my Savior on my heart.

My mission will always mean the world to me, and I'm sad it's coming to a close. But here's to my next mission!!!! See you guys soon!!!!

For the last time,

Elder Eliason

P.s. I'll send you guys a bunch of pics later.... gotta run to the central market to buy some souvenirs

DAYANNE VAI PRA MISSÃO !!!!!! She's filling out her papers to serve her own mission after she made 1 year after her baptism!! I cried of pure happiness when she told me.

The Three Musketeers

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

My entire email got erased, so I'm a little sad right now. But, I'll rewrite it for you guys.

So Monday night, Elder Merrill and I were playing some pick-up soccer with some guys next to our house when Elder Mañago called us and said that he was gonna be emergencially transferred to Bom Jardim. So, we early Tuesday Morning we had to say goodbye to our Phillipian friend. That same morning, Elder Abreu from São Paulo arrived from Bom Jardim. He said he was already in the process to go home and that his ticket was already purchased. 

When we asked him why he was going home, he started to cry and tell us that the mission wasn't what he thought it was gonna be like. He didn't have the best example in his trainer, so it was hard for him to get in the rhythm. So, Elder Leavitt, Elder Merrill, and I made it our mission to do what we could to help him to stay on the mission.

So, we helped him to see how to have joy in the journey. We worked a ton, we ate a ton of pizza, and had a lot of fun. We tried to change his perspective on what a mission is. On Friday, he said that he was still leaning towards going home the next day. So, I went on splits with him to see if I got work a miracle and help him see how awesome the mission is. 

The exchange was great. He smiled more, laughed more, and taught with power to our investigators. Never worked so much in an exchange before haha. Afterwards, we made a list of why he should stay in the mission and why he shouldn't go home now. We had a deep conversation and I begged him to stay just one more week to think this decision through. But, he was already decided. So, Saturday morning President showed up at our house and took him to the airport. Less than a week, and 2 missionaries leaving the area, pretty crazy.

So, that meant that E. Leavitt, E. Merrill and I are in a trio. President has already nicknamed us the 3 Musketeers haha. Each one of us has 1 year and 9 months on the mission at least, so it's a pretty veteran trio. I've never been in 3 on my mission until my last 2 weeks hahaha. 

We have a lot of investigators were teaching and that we are preparing for my last weekend on the mission!! Gotta go out with a bang!!

We're off to District P-day with the sisters!!!

Amo vocês, Abraço,

Elder Eliason

Fotos

- Tchau, Elder Mañago, Elder Abreu

- Leavitt baptized an investigator of the sisters !!

- Me and my mtc comp at the temple, 2 years later

- A family from Caucaia who gives us free food!!!

Russell M. Nelson no Brasil

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

This week was a lot of work. Some ups and downs, but a huge up was Ermesson's baptism!! His mom is also taking the lessons and is progressing well. We're going to have to help her get married civilly because they're "juntos" or "just together". She was there at Ermesson's baptism and came to church for the first time this week!! Milagres. 

This week I had my last exchange with the Assistants, and I went over to Elder Fernandes' area, a good friend from the CTM. We went around blitzing the area trying to start up a new teaching pool for them and also got to have a snack at their recent-convert's house. 

Also, we have a family from Caucaia (neighbor city) that comes to our house at about 3 times a week to give us free food. WHAT A BLESSING, haha. Feijoada, puré de batata, and a whole lot of other Brazilian stuff. We took a pic of one meal she gave us one night.

The prophet spoke to the Brazilian people this week!!! He spoke to the missionaries as well 2 days before. We got to watch it as an entire mission. The last time I will get to see the entire mission gathered together :( He spoke a lot about the Book of Mormon and how to use it in our teaching moments. He taught us to never let a investigator start on 1 Nephi 1, because it doesn't catch them. He taught us to let them start at the climax in 3 Nephi 11. 

Presidente Nelson also gave his testimony in Portuguese and that's when I felt the spirit very strong. Another confirmation that we have a prophet on the Earth today is evidence of how much God loves us as well. 

Only 3 weeks left... gotta take up every second.

AMO VOCÊS!!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

Sevilha Week 2

HELLO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

Another week in Sevilha working our tails off here!! This week Larissa and Paulo Cesar were baptized! There's a lot of miracles here just waiting for us.

Larissa is Lucas' (RC) girlfriend, and he was the one who brought her to church the Sunday before we got here. Our first day in the area we went to her house and marked a baptismal date for August 24th!! Larissa was very open to the message of the restored gospel and received her answer immediately when we were teaching the first lesson. She said that she knew we were sent from God to give that exact message to her. One of the elect for sure.

Paulo Cesar is Ana Paula's (RC) little brother that she brought to church with her and is also best friends with our other investigator, Ermeson. When we first got to his house, he was super scared of us. He came out to see us and ran out of the room again. After a lot of attempts of making a handshake with him and playing ninja to help him open up to us a bit more, it finally worked out. We started to teach him and prepare for his baptism. His parents are not very into the whole "church thing" they said, but love the missionaries! Every time we go over there, they give us a little snack which is great.

Time is flying by!!!

We are preparing Ermeson for this Saturday and his parents as well are progressing very well too!!

That's about it for this week, love you all!!! Gotta run!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

The 5 Fs

HELLO FAMILY!!!! 

What a first week we had here in Sevilha!!! So we're here in the ward with another group of elders. Elder Leavitt, who is the LD and from my group, and Elder Mañago from the Philippines and is Elder Whatcott's filho (son). It's great to live with 4 missionaries, a huge bonus after living in 2 for 6 months in Beira Rio.

We got in the area and we're opening the area so we got a little lost sometimes but that's normal haha. We talked with the Bishop here as soon as possible and he is the best bishop I've had on the mission. He's only 29 years old but completely supports and understands missionary work. All of the bishopric have served missions and we're super pumped to work super closely with them in these next couple weeks. I'm a big fan of Bishop Barroso, but he ain't toppin' Bishop Wilson anytime soon (Shoutout A3W).

We have plenty of investigators to teach here in Sevilha. We're teaching Larissa and Paulo Cesar (who have baptismal dates for this Saturday), Emerson (date for dia 31 de agosto), and two girls Alice and Rafaela (date for dia 7 de setembro). We've been working our butt offs to help out the zone here. This zone is WAY different than Zona Litoral. There's a whole lot more sisters and a lots of baptisms!!!! Elder Merrill is learning everything super quick and is developing into a great leader as well.

Also, for the first time since November 2017, I got to enter the temple of the Lord and do a session. I can't tell you guys how much I missed the temple and all of the inspired impressions and thoughts I received as I got to remember all of the great feelings that are in the temple. That's why I'm writing today because we switched P-days just for this week. I got to do the session with one of the districts in our zone and with my buds from the CTM now assistants, Elder Oldham and Elder Fernandes!! It reminded me a lot of the CTM and how every week we were able to do a session, and as I sat down in the session, I started to ponder about how fast 2 years pass. I mean, it seems like yesterday that I was jumbling up my Portuguese and feeling exhausted physically, spiritually, and mentally in the start of my mission. 

I can't tell you guys in an email of how much I've learned or what experiences I had that really marked me during my mission but I felt the Spirit very strong in the temple telling me that my mission isn't over yet and there's still much work to do here!! 

Also, as we were getting ready for the session, a old man that uses metal stilts to walk started chatting us up about the mission, and he started to make a bunch of old man jokes ahah. 

But, he said something that I liked a lot, he said that after baptism we have to be the 5 F's to spiritually survive this life:

1. Fiel (Faithful)

2. Forte (Strong) 

3. Firme (Firm) 

4. Feliz  (Happy) 

5. And and one I can't remember haha. 

The old man was dropping knowledge on us.

Also, Elder Merrill and I bought 50 bananas for 5 reais (1.25 dollars) and 5 liters of ice cream for 25 reais (6.25 dollars). Ballin on a budget.

Also, Back in Beira Rio, Elder S. Ferreira and Elder Phellip got to baptize Bruno last Saturday!! He called me this week and told me that he wanted me to be there. I'll tell his conversion story next week, it's a doozy, Atheist to Convert!!

Love you all!!

Abraço,

Elder Eliason

God Doesn't Call the Qualified but He Calls to Qualify

HELLO FAMILY & FRIENDS !!!!!

Transfers this week and I've been transferred to Ala Sevilha in Conjunto Ceará. I'll be training a new zone leader, Elder Merrill, another americano!! Little sad to leave Beira Rio in my last transfer because of all the great experiences that I've had here in the past 6 months I've been here. 

I'm super pumped to start my last transfer and give all I got and finish my mission strong. The Lord gave me a great opportunity to do that, giving me a new area, a new companion and a new zone!! 

Bruno unfortunately didn't pass the baptismal interview so he's going to have a more thorough process to make sure he's ready for baptism. I'm pretty bummed I won't be here to see his baptism but I'll be sure to send you guys pictures of his baptism when the day comes.

When I look back on when I first got to Beira Rio, I remember how flipping nervous I was to have a calling as a leader. I felt unprepared, inadequate, and scared I wouldn't be able to make the impact that I wanted. I remember a LOT of struggles and I felt like the task would be too big to conquer. After a lot of trials and a lot of confusion, my prayers were answered when Elder Alves and I were able to find and baptize Felipe, Juliana (who went to the temple for the first time this Saturday!!!), and Cauan on the same day. That day, I felt a lot of relief, A LOT. After a lot of hard work, we saw the blessings. Soon after, the entire zone started to have the same type of success. I remember the feeling of gratitude I had when Zona Litoral and the entire Missão Brasil Fortaleza had the month of miracles in June!!

I learned a lot of things about leadership in a very short time in Beira Rio, and I have a testimony that the Lord doesn't call the qualified, but he calls to qualify. In Crateús, I learned a lot about leading members but in Beira Rio, I learned how to lead missionaries. I also learned how to inspire and motivate through our example. I could write a million things that I learned here but I owe a lot of it to my companions and the missionaries in Zona Litoral.

Here's to a new challenge and a new opportunity!! I'm gonna go say goodbye to the rest of the members and the RC's. Tears will be shed. 

Abraço forte,

Elder Eliason

Pics

1) An awesome family here in Beira Rio, Edvaldo and Josi, Renata, Lucas, and Analice

2) Laison, young man from Ala Jardim Guanabara in the stake

3) My buddy Lucas !!

4) Saying goodbye to my dude Felipe, the biggest Ceará fan I've seen

Blessings of the Temple of Fortaleza

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!

Well, it's good to know Seth got home safely from MX. The first one back from the Big 3, well done Big Mac.

I wrote you guys last week but the computer freaked out and didn't send it and deleted my draft so I'll try to combine 2 weeks into one letter.

This week Sabrina and Camila got baptized!!! Sabrina chose her seminary teacher (Tiago) to baptize her and Pedro (a young man headed on the mission soon) asked Camila if he could baptize her and she said yes!! Personally, I love it when members baptize because it helps a lot more in retention and shows the members that we are passing the responsibility to them. 

Sabrina and Camila are best friends and they are going to seminary every day of the week!! Sabrina is already working on her personal progress, and we got some young woman in the ward to help her out with the goals and stuff. We're just waiting on her baptismal record to get in the system to get them two to the temple and do baptisms for the dead!!!

Speaking of temple recommendations, Juliana, Cauan, Batata, Janielle, and Kayky all received their temple recommendations to go do baptisms!!! It's absolutely wonderful to see recent-converts so excited to get to the temple. The blessings of the Temple of Fortaleza are falling quick and hard. The retention of converts is going sky-high because of the temple. I'm grateful as well to awesome Ward leaders who are supporting missionary work and taking care of our converts. I wish I could go to the temple with them but we can't in our mission (stupid rule).

We had interviews with President Chamberlain this week!! We talked a lot about some issues we're having in our zone with some missionaries and how we can use what we learn from being a leader in the mission to our own ward and be stronger leaders in the future. As always we had to give trainings while President was holding interviews, and I thought it went really well. We analyzed all of the numbers of each district and saw where we can improve and see what's causing some problems and give possible solutions!!

We're heading into the last week of this transfer, and we have some awesome investigators with baptismal dates!! 

We're preparing Bruno Guilherme (Camilla's brother) and Gabriel (Sabrina's friend) for this Saturday!! We started teaching them a couple weeks ago and they are progressing super quick. When we asked Camilla if she had someone in mind that she wanted to bring with her to church she thought of Bruno first!! But after that she said, "No, I don't think he'll go, he's atheist." But me and S. Ferreira insisted that we wanted to teach him. 

So, she brought him to Seminary one day, and we taught him and Gabriel afterwards in the church. He accepted the date very hesitantly but he accepted to prepare to be baptized on the 10th of August!! He's making so much progress ever since then. For some one who didn't believe in God, his faith is growing so much and he's heading to seminary every day as well!! Stay tuned for baptism pics...

Also, Dayanne visited me again!!! She gave me my next daily planner all decorated with nice words from my sister haley, Ana Paula, and meu filho Elder Eiras. She came and visited me exactly on the date she was baptized 1 year ago!! She was called as the 1st counselor in the young woman presidency!!!! Super happy for her.

THATS ABOUT IT!!!

Amo vocês, abraço,

Elder Eliason

Fotos

1) Juliana and Cauan made some awesome hot dogs for us, love these guys

2/3) BATISMOS

4) Dayanne visiting me from Nova Conquista!!!!